German families look to US for asylum (to home-school their children)

[pampango]

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/germany/100421/germany-education-home-schooling?page=0,0

"The German government's position is that mandatory school attendance ensures a high standard of learning for all children, said Karl-Matthias Klause, a spokesman with the German embassy in Washington, D.C. Parents in Germany can choose between public and private schools, as long as the school is recognized by the government. The European Court for Human Rights ruled in 2006 that the law is not a human rights violation. Germany is nearly alone in Europe in its stand against home-schooling.

Home-schooling isn’t illegal, Klause said, as long as children attend a state-recognized school during standard school hours. Parents are free to home-school their children in the afternoon and on weekends, he said."

"Romeike and his wife decided to home-school their children in 2006, after their son suffered at the hands of violent bullies, he said. Their daughter was frightened to attend class after another student brought a knife. In Germany, Romeike said, home-schoolers are stereotyped as “weird people or religious nuts.” But religion wasn’t a factor when the family first decided to home school. It wasn’t until they were forced to prepare a legal defense of their home schooling that they argued that the practice would allow them to teach the Bible to their children. For his family, Romeike said, home-schooling is a lifestyle that offers children a chance to learn at their own pace, in a calm, loving environment."

"A Tennessee immigration judge in January ruled that the Romeike family faced persecution in Germany, and approved the asylum request. But weeks later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement appealed the ruling, arguing that the United States recognizes the right of governments to regulate school attendance. It will be months before the Romeikes know for sure whether they can stay in the United States, said Michael Donnelly, an attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association, which represents the family."

[Dogtown]

1. Frivilous

"Asylum" because they can't 'homeschool'?

I think they can apply for visas like everyone else.

[FreakinDJ]

2. Political Asylum Refugees can apply for 0% loans

to help get them back on their feet

[Javaman]

3. These people are back?

this story was first reported last year.

And it still doesn't pass the smell test to me.

They want to come to the US to "home school" their kids and give up national health care?

Unless they have been living in a cave and don't pay attention to any international news, there is no reason, at this point, that they wouldn't understand how bad our health insurance scam system is and still is even after the "reform".

Ahhh this explains it, "It wasn’t until they were forced to prepare a legal defense of their home schooling that they argued that the practice would allow them to teach the Bible to their children."

Ahh the fundies.

[Maat]

4. I welcome the Romeike family and others like them.

I feel that granting them asylum is most appropriate. Homeschooling is what works for my kid, and I'd like other parents in the same situation to be able to homeschool. The state in question is always free to require quarterly or monthly meetings with a teacher, but, if the U.S. is one of the few countries in which parents can make the right educational decision for their child, then we need to grant asylum to these families.